Jets Q&A: Kellen Winslow Jr. confused about diminished role

Jets tight end Kellen Winslow (81) is tackled by Miami Dolphins outside linebacker Philip Wheeler (52) during the first half. (Dec. 1, 2013) Credit: Lee S. Weissman
Is Kellen Winslow Jr. frustrated that he's not a bigger weapon in the Jets' offense?
He stopped short of using that word, but it's safe to say the tight end isn't happy about his diminished role. Shortly after the Jets totaled only 177 yards against Miami -- the fewest allowed by the Dolphins this season -- Winslow seemed perplexed about why he's not being allowed to contribute more. "When they throw it, I catch it,'' he said. "So I don't know why.''
Winslow was right about that -- at least on this particular day. He caught all three passes thrown to him for 26 yards, including a 12-yarder from Geno Smith with 43 seconds left in the first quarter. But Winslow wasn't targeted again until the fourth quarter, when Matt Simms hit him for completions of 9 and 5 yards on the same drive.
Before serving a four-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy, Winslow caught 17 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns in the Jets' first five games. Since then, he has only six catches for 77 yards and no TDs. But he said he won't discuss his playing time with offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg because "that's not my fight.''
"My job is just to make plays when it comes,'' Winslow said. "When my number's called, I make plays. And when it's not, I try to help the other guys. And that's all I can do. Some things you just can't control.''
But he went out of his way to avoid using the word "frustrated.''
"I don't know how to feel,'' he said. "I'm just trying to do the best I can with the situation I'm in. Like I said, when the ball's thrown to me, I'm going to catch it every time. And that's that.''
Do the Jets need more offensive weapons?
According to Winslow, a lack of talented skill-position players is the least of the Jets' problems. "We have more than enough offensive weapons,'' he said. "That's definitely not the case.''
Wide receiver David Nelson agreed, adding that the Jets' issues stem mostly from a lack of execution. Rex Ryan, however, avoided the topic altogether.
"Right now, this is what we have,'' Ryan said, "and you focus on what you have, and we certainly have to find a way to get better.''
What happened on the botched handoff between Simms and Bilal Powell?
A week after Nick Mangold's snap to Smith hit Greg Salas in motion and the Ravens recovered, Simms was charged with a lost fumble after Powell fumbled the ball on the exchange.
Two plays later, Brian Hartline caught a 31-yard touchdown pass to make it 13-0.
"The ball just slipped between me and Bilal,'' Simms said. "That's a mistake on myself . . . That's a heartbreaker, especially when they come back and score.''
Any injury update on
Josh Cribbs?
The kick returner/wide receiver injured a shoulder making a tackle on a Dolphins' punt return in the second quarter and did not return. That forced Kyle Wilson to handle the punt-return duties and Antonio Cromartie, who has been battling a hip injury, to return most of the kickoffs.
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